Valletta: Street Food Walking Tour with Pastizzi & Local Tapas

Summary

Valletta’s flavors and stories come alive on foot with every bite

You’ll walk Valletta’s winding lanes tasting pastizzi hot from the oven, sip spiced coffee outdoors, try chewy ftira with Kinnie soda, and end sharing local tapas over cold Cisk beer. Expect laughter with your guide, honest flavors, and a few surprises along the way — it feels more like joining friends than ticking off sights.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll admit, I was nervous about trying pastizzi first thing in the morning — flaky pastry and ricotta isn’t my usual breakfast. But our guide, Maria, handed them out right by the New Parliament Building at 9:30 sharp, grinning like she knew something we didn’t. The pastry was still warm, and honestly? I’d eat that for breakfast every day if I could. There’s something about standing in Valletta’s old streets with crumbs on your fingers that makes you feel like you belong here for a second.

We wandered through Castille Square and past the Auberge D’Italie while Maria pointed out little details I’d have missed — like the way locals tap their knuckles on the stone walls for luck (she did it without thinking). The city felt awake but not rushed; there was this salty breeze off the harbor and someone somewhere was baking bread. When we stopped for ftira — this chewy flatbread stuffed with olives and tomatoes — she poured us glasses of Kinnie. It tasted kind of herbal and bitter-sweet, not what I expected from soda. I tried to say “grazzi” properly but probably butchered it; Maria just laughed.

I didn’t know Maltese coffee had cardamom in it until that day. We sipped it outside a tiny café while Maria explained how spices ended up here centuries ago. The Mqaret (date pastries) were sticky and fragrant with orange blossom — one bite and you get why people linger over sweets here. Someone’s radio played old pop songs in the background; it all felt strangely familiar even though it wasn’t home.

The tour finished at a tucked-away restaurant where we shared a platter of local tapas — rabbit stew for some, ravioli for others, always with Cisk beer on the table. Maria read out what was on offer that day; it changes depending on what’s fresh or who’s cooking. I liked that unpredictability. By then everyone was chatting like old friends, swapping stories about mispronouncing Maltese words or getting lost in side streets earlier that week. I still think about that first bite of pastizzi whenever I see golden pastry anywhere now.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Valletta street food and culture tour

• Meet guide at New Parliament Building
• Taste Pastizzi, popular street food
• Walk through Castille Square and Auberge D'Italie
• Taste Ftira bread with Kinnie soda
• Sample Maltese spiced coffee and Mqaret sweets
• Enjoy local platter with beer and traditional dish

Top questions

What time does the Valletta street food tour start?

The tour starts at 9:30 am in front of the New Parliament Building in Valletta.

Is lunch included in this Valletta street food walking tour?

Yes, the tour ends at a local restaurant where you sample a platter of traditional dishes along with beer.

Are dietary needs accommodated?

You can let them know about dietary needs when booking, but vegan or gluten-free diets aren’t recommended.

What foods do you try on this Valletta street food tour?

You’ll taste pastizzi, ftira bread with Mediterranean fillings, Maltese coffee, Mqaret (date pastries), Kinnie soda, and traditional tapas or rabbit/ravioli at lunch.

Is this walking tour suitable for children?

Children up to age 5 can join free (food not included for non-paying kids); prams/strollers are allowed.

How long is the walk during this Valletta food tour?

The exact distance isn’t specified but you walk through central Valletta between stops; suitable for all fitness levels.

Does this Valletta food tour include drinks?

Yes, drinks like Kinnie soda and Cisk beer are included along with tastings.

What’s included

Your morning includes meeting your fully licensed guide at Valletta’s entrance, sampling warm pastizzi and ftira bread with Kinnie soda as you walk historic streets, sipping spiced Maltese coffee alongside sweet Mqaret pastries or other seasonal treats, then ending at a local restaurant to share a platter of traditional dishes (like ravioli or rabbit) paired with Cisk lager before saying goodbye around lunchtime.